OREM, Utah – Junior Carl Montgomery (Chicago, IL/Shepard) (Chicago, Ill.) posted a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, but Utah Valley scored five points over the final 14 seconds to post a 48-43 win over Chicago State in the Great West Conference men's basketball opener for both teams Saturday night at the McKay Center. The Cougars saw their season record fall 5-12 (0-1) and the Wolverines improved their record to 7-8 (1-0) on the year.
UVU held the visitors scoreless for the game's opening five-plus minutes en route to claiming an 8-0 advantage and later hiked its lead at 10-2 on a layup by senior Tyray Petty at the 12:22 mark. A layup by Montgomery at 11:38 jumpstarted a 25-9 scoring run for the remainder of the half behind 12 points from freshman Victor Scott (Chicago, IL/Morgan Park) (Chicago, Ill.) to head into the half sporting a 27-19 lead.
In the second half, junior Corey Claitt tallied five points as part of a 15-5 UVU run that lasted over eight minutes to capture a 34-32 lead at the 11:46 mark after senior Jourdain Scoubes scored on a layup. CSU regained its leading margin at 36-34 after a pair of baskets by Carl Montgomery (Chicago, IL/Shepard) was between a near three-minute span. After Claitt scored on another layup at the 5:33 mark to tie the score at 36-all, junior Christian Wall (New Orleans, LA/John Ehret) (New Orleans, La.) connected on a three at 4:33 to give the Cougars a 39-33 lead.
Claitt scored four straight points in under a minute to give UVU a slim 40-39 lead with 2:07 left in the game, but Carl Montgomery (Chicago, IL/Shepard) drained a jumper to switch the lead back in CSU's favor, 41-40, at the 1:49 mark. Three more points from Claitt handed the Wolverines a 43-41 lead at 1:16 before Montgomery evened the score at 43-43 after hitting a pair of free throws at the 39-second mark. A three-point play by Claitt and a pair of free throws down the stretch sealed the win for the home team.
“Our guys have to understand that you have got to make plays on the road in conference play. We have to play smarter and tougher, and we will. This game had a totally different feel to it. We are excited about the Great West Conference schedule ahead.” CSU head coach Benjy Taylor said.
Scott finished with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting for three for Chicago State, while junior Jonathan Montgomery added eight points and senior Brandan Smith (Bolingbrook, IL/Bolingbrook) (Bolingbroook, Ill.) has four assists.
Claitt posted game-highs of 20 points and three steals to lead Utah Valley. Scoubes added nine points and eight assists, while Petty and junior Shawn Deadwiler each added eight points.
CSU continues its conference-opening road swing with a Texas weekend trip beginning on Thursday, Jan. 14 against Houston Baptist at Sharp Gym, with the tip-off set for 7:35 p.m.
~CSU~
